Education and training services

Tender description

The Future Leaders Programme for Directors of Children’s Services forms part of the overall drive to ensure the highest quality children’s services and builds on our existing programmes to support the development of those working within children’s social care. The supplier will develop and deliver a programme which will attract and equip those aspiring to DCS posts and newly appointed DCSs with the skills, capacities, and resilience to be strong system leaders. Prior to the release of the invitation to tender, the DfE will undertake market engagement activity for interested providers to learn more about the services, network with other providers, and input into the development of the specification. Anticipated value of up to 3 000 000 GBP over the contract period. The total funding for this programme will be made clear during the procurement process. In summer 2018, we announced plans to establish a system leadership programme for future and newly appointed Directors of Children’s Services (DCS). The DfE will be seeking proposals from organisations or consortia to develop, deliver and manage a programme which: — attracts high-quality participants with strong potential to progress to DCS roles and equips them with the core learning and capacities necessary to do so, and — supports newly appointed DCSs to develop and embed the behaviours, skills and capacities to become strong system leaders. DCSs have a professional responsibility for the leadership, strategy and effectiveness of local authority children’s services and are accountable for securing the provision of services which address the needs of all children and young people, including the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, and their families and carers. DCSs have a critical ‘system leader’ role for children and families — operating as the interface between practice, corporate and political leadership over a wide range of local authority services for children and young people. They are required to work collaboratively and create and lead effective partnerships in order to ensure the best and safe outcome for each service user. We know there are significant challenges in recruitment and retention at DCS level, and barriers to progressing into and quickly becoming effective in a DCS role. We are looking for a supplier that will: engage with and respond proactively to the DfE’s requirements and developing policy, liaise with a range of stakeholders, and deliver training and support based on evidence and user research to explore and address these challenges. This programme could include: — a balance of leadership and management and wider knowledge and skills training, — coaching and mentoring, — a development framework, including key outcomes and measures for high-quality system leadership, — a range of learning methods, potentially including options for a virtual platform, — innovative ways to attract high potential participants, particularly from within local authorities and local partners that work in a related capacity with children and families. The DfE is seeking expressions of interest from potential suppliers and their partner organisations to engage in early pre-procurement discussions with the DfE to input into the development of the specification and aid the formulation of the programme requirements. Start and end dates of the contract will be confirmed prior to market engagement taking place. It is anticipated that contract award will be in spring 2020, with the successful supplier commencing full service delivery from that point. The contract is envisaged to be for an initial period of 3 years with possible options to extend. A pre-market engagement event is planned for Wednesday 7 August at 11:30-14:00, at: Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT. This event will enable organisations to gain a better understanding of the DfE’s requirements, and provide an opportunity for networking and possible consortia discussions. To register for the pre-market engagement event, please email sg.socialworkreform@education.gov.uk with the name of your organisation and attendees (maximum 2) by 12:00 p.m., Tuesday 30 July. You will then be added to a direct mailing list for further information. We may hold an additional pre-market engagement event in early August if interest exceeds planned capacity. Attendance is limited to 2 representatives per organisation. Please ensure that the attendees have the requisite technical expertise to fully represent your organisation in the conversations.